St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-07-12
WRECK OF THE MERRINIAC.
A Crew Which Committed Rob-
berry and Drank Heavily.

HALIFAX. y. S., July 1.-THE pas
Sengers and crew of the wrecked
steamer Merrimac remain on Little
Hope island. where the disaster oc-
Cured. awaiting the arrival of aid from
here. The weather has been stormy
since the news of the wreck reached
here, but as 500 as it clears the steamer
GOlian will be dispatched to the scene.
The wrecked people are at present III
destitutiOn, but it is hardly possible
that their sufferings will be prOtracted.
Several narrow escapes from drowning
are reported. Fortunately no loss OF
life is reported, Capt. CrOWell being the
only person injured. The steamers
bottom pounded out within quarter OF
an hour after the disaster.
THE STORY OF TIE WRECK
of the steamer Merrimac, as told by
several passengers who arrived here to-
night, is one of the most remarkable in
the history of marine disasters. The
people on the steamer escaped terri
bic fate after being driven ashore Oh a
clear and clOudlesS night. with the
moon and stars shining brightly over
head, but according to their own aSSer-
tionS their baggage was ritied and a
number of valuable articles stolen
while the owners were on deck
seeking to save their lives.
The passengers declare it as
their conviction that these depredatiOnS
were committed by members Of the
crew. who Immediately after the ship
struck. secured a considerable quantity
of liquor. became drunk and created
disgraceful disturbance. The facts con-
nected with the disaster are related as
follows: Nearly all the passengers were
sound asleep, when suddenly about
1890 O'Clock Saturday night they were
awakened by kaif-dOZen shTA whis-
ties, followed Immediately bfNseveral
heavy shocks and grinding sounds,
as though the steamer was forcing her
way over a rocky bottom. Capt. Gro
well, the pilot ard two officers were on
deck when the steamer struck, aHd so
far as learned could give
NO SATISFACTORY REASON
why they were so close to the coast.
The steamer was going at full speed
when she struck. and she forced her way
over the rocks for fully five minutes.
There were a number Of heavy shocks
and the vessel tossed about so fearfully
that those on deck had to hold on for
their lives or they would have been
dashed into the water. BY the time she
came to stop all Oh board were out OF
their Lerths. the women and children
being huddled together III the cabin
with terror in their faces and sending
forth piercing screams for help. hide
scribable confusion and excitement pre-
vailed, but the efforts of a few
men succeeded in restoring par
tial calmnesS, and the work of
launching the boats was commenced.
1t was while this scene was being ell
acted that the pillaging of the paSSen-
gers baggage took place. State rooms
were entered. valiseS were torn or
ripped open and goods of value were
removed. Jewelry, clothing and other
articles disappeared. and when their
owners, after aScertaining that the yes
sci wouldn't go down, at once went to
thhir rooms to secure their property
they found it strewn on the floor III
\ PRoMISCUOUS MANNER.
with the most valuable portion gone.
One passenger stated that he lost about
$500 worth in this way. while numerous
other passengers tell similar stories. At
the same time number of the crew be-
came suddenly drunk and got into dis
puteS which ended only when they were
compelled to abandon the steamer
in boats which had been launched
by the aid of others. There
was some delay in getting
the boats af1oat, caused apparently by
poor management, but eventually
everybody was safely removed from the
vessel and the passengers were all
safely landed, though there were a
number of narrow escapes. The pas
sengerS who arrived here this evening
travelled by teams all last night and all
day to-day. The remainder of the
passengers are reported to have
reached the mainland to-day. The
the City of st. John Will be dispatched
to take them to Yarmouth. They will
be sent from that place to Boston di-
rect. The wreck is believed TO have
been caused by disordered compass. a
statement to that effect having been
made by the Merrimac'S pilot.